Tank closure device



Jan. 5, 1932. R. c. STONE I TANK CLOSURE DEVICE Filed 'Jan. 28, 1931 Patented Jam. 5, 1932 i v i caries srras PATEN RICEARD c. STONE, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA TANK oLosUnE DEVICE Application filed January 28, 1931. Serial No."511,t585'.

This invention relates to improvements in Figure 12 is a side view of the invention in closure means for the inlet nozzles or spouts modified form for application thereof to a of liquid containing receptacles, such as motank nozzle in which theregula-r closure cap tor vehicle tanks and the like, the purpose of thereof has been dispensed with. such a device being to prevent surreptitious Figure 13 is a vertical cross sectional View 1 0 access to the contents of the tank. taken on the line 13-13 in the direction of Advantages desired in an invention of the arrow 13 in Figure 11. above description are that it should be eco- Broadly stated, my invention conslsts of nomical of manufacture and easy to install a frame adapted to be secured to the tank 7 and use. Also it should be durable and not nozzle, a cover reniovably retained in united 6O liable to get out of order or repair. relation with said frame, a key-operated lock The above named general advantages, and embodied in the frame, a bolt operable by also certain more specific benefits which will said look, a latchfor thecover, and a spring presently appear, are alforded by the new conpressed deten y dab y retain e la ch struction, combination and arrangement of against movement when the latter is in the parts described in the following specification, unlatched position, the said latch being and illustrated in the accompanying drawadapted to be engaged and held by the bolt,

ings. V when in the latched position. The invention in the drawings: also includes a spring pressed catch which is if; r igure 1 is a side View of my improved clooperable when the latch'is in unlatched posisure device, a portion thereof being shown tion, to hold the latch in said unlatched posiin cross section, and the cap and top portion tion, and a device on said cover which acts of the tank nozzle being indicated by dotted when the latter is united with the frame, to line's. I move the said catch to position disengaged Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1, porfrom the latch, and to hold it in said distions of the cover element being broken away. engaged position.

Figure 3 a horizontal sectional top plan Inthe embodiment of my invention, as it view taken on the line 33 in Figure 1, the is illustrated in the drawings, the frame 1 cover having been removed. The dotted lines which may be of cast metal, and is ringindicate the position of the tank nozzle. shaped in plan, has opposed integrally Figure 4 is a top plan View of the cover formed up g u gs 2 and The removed. chined top surface of the said frame, and the Figure is a vertical cross sectional View machined grooves the l w Portions of taken on the line 5-5, in the direction of art e ce 0f t e i hOUSHIgS 2 and 0011- a; row 5 in Figure 2. stitute an annular seat 4, a rim 5, and op- Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional'view POSPJd .IQCBSSQS 6 and 7- The PP 5 8 take-non the line 6-6 in the direction of ara 9 0f the id Musings are of curvature raw 5 i Fi 2 v coincident with the curvature of the seat 4.

Fi 7 1 a ti l Cross ti l i The bore 10 of the frameis of suitable diametaken on the line 7-7 in the direction of aras OWIr. A stop lug 11 is prov ded at row 7 in Figure 2. 1 the end of the 'recess 6, as shown 111 Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional top plan view'taken 111 E of the pa ed bOSS PO QI II 12, and on tlieline 8-3 in Figure 1. I Wl11Cl1 may be four n number, is a counter- Fi ure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on u threaded aperture ln Whlch a p Screw th 15 9' 9 j 'Fi 2 13 may be screwed. At one of the sa d four Figure 10 is a rear view of the housing 3 boss portions 12, namely the one designated showing the lock shelter plate in folded 12a, I provide a cap screw 14 which 18 of didown position. a i ameter'to be passed freely through the sa d Figure 11 is a top plan view of the inventhreaded aperture. This cap screw 14 1s tion in modified form. of lengthshown in Figure 5, and upon same 199 is retained a grip bar 15. A felt washer 16 is embodied in the head portion of the said grip bar. The functions of the several parts just described will presently be referred to.

The invention as supplied to the customer, appears as shown in Figure 1. Preliminary to installing same, the cap of the tank nozzle is remm'ed. Screw 14 is then unscrewed from the grip bar 15. The frame will have been lowered to the desired position in relaion to the nozzle, and while being there stayed by the hand, screw 13 is screw-ed into engagement with the wall of the nozzle, the frame bein thereby held in attached connection with the said nozzle. By the use of a suitable hand tool with its drill disposed in the apertureof the boss portion 12a, a hole of suita le diameter is provided in the wall of the nozzle. The grip bar 15 is then disposed and held in position with its threaded bore in registration with the hole in the wall of the nozzle. The screw 14, inserted in position, will have passed through the hole in the wall of the nozzle, and have entered the threaded hole therefor in'the grip bar 15. Upon tightening the said screw, (its head be ing seated in the counterbore) the grip bar is drawn to bindingengagement with the nozle wall, the frame 1 being thereby fas tened securely in its position thereon. The grip bar being of extended formation, it cannot becomeunscrewed, and th-efelt washer serves to seal the space between the grip bar and the bore through which the screw 14 is passed. At each of the openings, a plug which may consist of'a 'convexed sheet metal disk 17, constitutes a seal against access to the screw. I

The cover 20, of the suit-able height shown, and which may be of sheet or cast-metal, preferably the latter, and which has a machined bottom' face to rest on seat 4 of the frame, is provided "with opeosed similar inis necessary in the placing of the cover in position, To unite the cover with the frame,

it is disposed upon the seat 4, where it is retained by the rim 5. It is then turned in the natural manner, clockwise, (to the right), the cams 23 passing the clearance ways 8a and 9a, and the flanges 21 and 21 passing into the recesses 6 and 7 of the said housings. The distance through which the cover is turned is limited by one of the said flanges meeting the stop lug 11. The cover in this position is retained against; transverse er vertical dislodgment, and its edges and the flanges are shielded from the ele ments, and they are practically inaccessible to tools.

Embodied in, and suitably secured in sunken position, in metal to metal union with the housing 3, is a lock mechanism of the Yale type. The general structure, and he nature and functions of the working parts of the cylindrical body 25 of a lock of this kind are so well known as to need no specific description here. A bolt 26 as adapted for the present invention, and which is secured to and is operated by the barrel 27 of said lock mechanism, is of the formation shown in Figure 7, and by the dotted lines in Figures. Its function will presently be referred to. i

In a vertical bore 30 which is in position to register with thenotch of the flange 21 of the cover, when the latter is in the in stalled position as shown in Figure 2, a round bar designated as a latch 31 and which provided with circumferential grooves 33 and 34, is slidingly retained. The outer end of this latch is provided with a .small integral stud or head 35, whereby the latch may be manually moved to or from the position shown in'F'igure 7, namely, the latching position. In the present instance the said movements are downwardly, or upwardly, respectively.

In a transverse bore 36 which extends into the bore 30, is a detent '37 which, by a spring 38 that is retained by the tl readed plug 39, is pressed against the sidev of the latch. The function of this detent is to yieldably retain the latch against movement when the latter is in the unla-t-ched, or raised position, engaging same for that purpose at the groove 33. The position of this latch with relation to the position assumed by the notch 22 of the flange of the cover is .shown in Figure 2. The position of the lock bolt 26 with relation to the said latch, is shown in Figure 7,

and by the dotted lines in Figure 8. In a transverse bore 40, which cuts slightly into the side'of the aforesaid latch bore 30 and extends through the face 9 of the housing 3, is slidably retained a catch bar designated as a catch 41. The forward end of this catch 41 is of reduced diameter so as to pass the latch 31.

The function of a shoulder 42 which is a predetermined distance from the end of said catch,-is to engage the groove 33 of the latch 31 when the latter is at the raisedor unlatched position. By a spring43, which is retained in said bore by a screw, plug 44,

the said catch 41 is urged to position beyond the face 9 of the housing. With the latch 31 in the lowered or latching position, asshown in the drawings, the catch 41 is in the retracted position, (as shown in Figure 2).

By having the notch 22, and the cam 23 on opposed sides of the cover, and by the'latter being thereby reversible, no particular attention is involved in placing the cover in position other than to dispose it on the .seat 4 and turn it in clockwise direction ashereinbefore described. With the cover in position as shown in Figure 2, the cam 23 will have moved the catch 41 to the retracted position, and in which position it is held by saidcam.

The invention installed and in locked position appears as shown in Figure 1, the frame enclosing the top portion and cap of the nozzle. The latch 31 is in the lowered or latched position, and it is there held by the bolt 26 whose end occupies the peripheral recess 34 of the latch. The cover is retained by the flanges 21 in united relation with the frame and it is held there against movement by the latch 31 which en-v gages the notch 22.. lhe cam 23 holds the catch 41 at retracted position, as above stated.

To practice the invention, the keyis inserted and turned anti-clockwise, the bolt 26 being thereby disengaged from the latch. The latch is then lifted, the distance of its upward movement being limited by the detent'37 which clicks into the groove 33. In this lifting of the latch, the notch of the flange 21 is cleared. The cover is then turned anticlockwise and as the flanges pass free from the recesses 6 and 7, it is removed. The cap of the nozzle is now accessible.

In the removal of the cover as above described, the catch 41, by the action of spring 43, is shot forwardly, its shoulder 42 making engagement with groove 33 of the latch, thereby checking the latter against being inadvertently depressed before the cover will have been replaced. At this stage the key is not removable from thelock.

When ready to replace the cover, itis disposed in position on the annular seat 4 and is turned clockwise, the distance of its movement being limited by the stop lug 11, and the flanges in their passing into the recesses 6 and 7 come to rest Wltll'tllG notch 22 in registration with the latch bore 30. At this stage the catch41 which will have been moved to retracted position as aforesaid by the cam 23, is held in that position, rendering the latch again free to be moved. .(At' this stage an inadvertent turning of the lock barrel to lockedposition would be prevented the bolt making contact with the .latch). The

latchis then operated, the user simply depressing same, whence itengages-the notch of the flange, thereby staying the cover. Then with a turn of the key clockwise the .bolt 26 is moved to position to engage the groove34 of the latch, the latter then'beingheld against movement. The key may then be removed. 7

When the cover is in unlocked position, the. chance of inadvertent failure to lock the same is minimized because the key is non-removable until the latch has been depressed. v

Similarly, the chance of omitting thereplacement of the cover is eliminated, because the key is non-removablewhen the cover is removed.

The invention constitutes a protective shield for the nozzle and its cap, and preventssurreptitious access thereto. It constitutes a closure device which is practically proof against efforts to remove same, except by the complete destruction thereof and of the fixedparts of the Vehicle structure asmay be adjacent to the nozzle. At such times as it may be desired to shield the lock against the elements, a light sheet metal cover plate 45 which is hinged at 46, and whichnormally occupies a recess 3a thereforinthe housing 3, is swung to the top of the housing and to position covering the said lock.

Access of air'to the interior of the cover is afforded by the channels 40!. which extend through the frame, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 1

and 9. These channels also function to permit escapeof such water as may lodge between the lower portion of-the cover and the rim of the frame, the seat 4 the'refore being at all times free from moisture, and the liabilityof freezing at this pointbeing overcome.

In a modification of my invention, as shown in Figure 11, the frame and cover structure are identical with those shown in Figure 1, except that'the flanges 21 are not provided with notches.- The lock mechanism and latch arearranged in horizontal positions and theyfunction in manner the same as hereinbefore described. The latch which is designated by the numeral 48, has it inner end beveled to provide the cam face 49. It is held against rotative movement by a small'lug 4801. which engages the channel 36.

latch. In theopposite sides of the cover, are the apertures 53. These apertures are so located that when the cover is in position with it's flanges at place in the recesses 6 and 7, one

of said apertures 53'is in registration with the latch 48; To remove the cover the key is operated, thereby moving the'bolt to position disengaged from groove 34 of the latch. The 7 user then pulls the latch 48 outwardly to the dotted lin'eposition and clear of the cover.

'(The latch is yieldably retained in the dottedline or unlatchedposition bythe detent 37).

The cover inaythen be turned anti-clockwise, I

and as the flanges pass free from the recesses 6 and 7, it maybe removed. The measure of the distance of the inward movement of this latch is limited by the shoulder 51.

Upon returnof the cover to its position on the seat and with its flanges in the recessesfi and, 7, the latch is pushed in, its end portion makingengagement with the aperture 53 of the cover. At this stage, and with the operation of the lock, the bolt 26 is moved into engagement with lock groove 34. Replacing of the cover in position on the frame would be unaffected by the latch having been inadvertently moved inwardly, for the reason that when the cover is being lowered to position, its side comes into engagement with the cam face 49 of the latch, the latter being thereby moved aside.

The modification shown in Figure 12 is intended for use in instances where the nozzle cap is dispensed with. The only change in the cover structure is the providing of a head piece 55 centrally thereof. A headed stem 56 has loosely retained thereon a metal disk 57, upon' whose bottom face is secured a composition or cork ring 58 (the latter being of diameter to cover the mouth of the nozzle B and to fitfreely withinthe said cover.) The peripheral portion 57a of said disk is curled upwardly and inturned. tween the said disk and the underside of the said cover, is a coil spring 59. The upper end of the stem is secured in the head piece by a pin or screw 60. By this arrangement, the several partsjust described are easily applicable to, and they may be as easily de tached from the said cover. I

In practice, this modified cover is placed in position on the seat 4 in manner the same as hereinbefore described. The urge of spring 59 causes the cork ring 58 to be held firmly seated on the mouth of the nozzle. Diffusion of such content of the tank as may splash or ooze through the opening through which the stem 56 is passed,.is prevented by the upturned edges 57a of said disk, and drainage into the nozzle is facilitated by the perforations 61 which are provided in the body portion of said disk.

VJhereas I have shown what I consider the preferred form of embodiment, and the most desirable form of details, for carrying my invention into effect, I do not wish to be limited particularly in theconstruction-and arrangement of the several parts, nor in the details of construction, as various changes and modifications may be made, within the range ofthe invention as it is defined in the appended claims, without departing'from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. V c 1 vVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A tank closure device, comprising a frame adapted to be secured tojthe tank nozzle, a cover removably retained in united relation with said frame, a key operable lock embodied in said frame, a bolt operable by said look, a latch for the cover, and a spring pressed detent to yieldably retain the latch against movement when thelatter is in the unlatohed position, the said latch being engageable by the bolt when in the latched position.

2. A tank closure device, comprising a frame adapted to be secured to and which encircles and encloses the mouth portion and cap of the tank nozzles, a cover removably retained in united relation with the said frame, a key operable lock embodied in the frame, a bolt operable by said lock, alatch forthe cover, and a spring actuated detent toyieldably retain the latch against movement when the latter is in the unlatched p0 sition, the said latch being adapted to be engaged and held by the bolt when in the latched position.

A tank closure device, comprising a frame'to encircle and enclose the mouth portion of, and which is adapted to be secured to the tank nozzle,a cover removably retained in united relation with said frame, a key operated. lock embodied in the frame, a bolt operable by said lock, a latch for the cover, a spring actuated detent to yieldably in the latch against movement when the r is in the unlatched position, the said latch being adapted to be engaged by the bolt when inv the latched position, a spring actuated catch which is operable when the latch is in unlatched position, to hold it, and a de- Vice on said cover operable when the latter is united with the frame, to move the said catch to position disengaged from the latch and to hold said catch in said disengaged position.

at. A tank closure device, comprising a frame adapted to be secured to the tank nozzle, a cover to enclose the mouth portion of the nozzle and which is retainedin united relation with the said frame, a key operated lock embodied in the frame, a bolt operable by said lock, a latch for the cover, a detent to yieldably retain the latch against movement when the latter is in the unlatched position, the said latch being engageable by the said bolt when in the latched position, a catch which is operable when the latch is in the unlatched position, to hold it, and a cam on said'cover operable when the latter is united with the frame, to move the said catch to, and then to hold itin position disengaged from the said latch.

A device of the kind described, com- 7' prising a frame adapted to encircle the nozzle and to be secured thereto and having opposed integral housings provided with facmg curvilinearrecesses and said frame hav- 2 ing an annular seat, a dome shaped cover having opposed transverse flanges, each being provided with a notch, said cover being adapted to rest loosely upon said seat and being movable to position whereby the flanges thereof occupy the aforesaid recesses, a key operated lock embodied in one of the said housings, a bolt operable by said lock, a latch operable to engagement With the notch of the cover flange, a spring actuated detent to yieldably retain the latch against movement when the latter is in unlatched position, the said latch being engageable by the bolt when in the latched position, a catch which is operable when the latch is in unlatched position to hold said latch, and means carried by the cover so operable that when the latter is moved to position with its flanges engaged by the housings, the said catch is moved to and held in position disengaged from the said latch.

RICHARD O. STONE. 

